Blake Shelton isn’t tiptoeing back into Las Vegas. He’s barreling in with a beer in one hand and a setlist in the other. Fresh off his successful run last February, the country superstar returns to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for eight shows with a promise that should thrill fans.
“We had so much fun earlier this year, I figured—why not do it again?” Shelton has said. “This time we’re gonna do it more country, with more cocktails, and probably make a few more questionable decisions. Let’s go, Vegas.”
This is the kind of confidence that’s made Shelton one of country music’s most bankable stars. With 30 No. 1 hits and nearly 11 billion global streams, he’s earned the right to show up in Vegas and do things his way. And fans are more than ready to make those questionable decisions right alongside him.
The residency comes at a particularly hot moment for Shelton. His latest album, For Recreational Use Only, dropped in May. It’s his first full-length release in nearly four years. The 12-track collection includes chart-topper “Texas” and current radio hit “Stay Country or Die Tryin’,” which both capture Shelton’s ability to balance traditional country sensibilities with arena-ready hooks. The album also features appearances by his wife, Gwen Stefani, along with veterans John Anderson and Craig Morgan.
“It’s been a long time since we had a new album out, and I want to thank the songwriters and musicians who helped bring this record to life,” Shelton said when announcing the album. “Scott (Hendricks) and I have been working on this music for years, and I’m beyond excited to finally share it with the fans.”
The last couple of years for Shelton has been spent in constant motion, wrapping his Friends & Heroes Tour with Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, Trace Adkins and Emily Ann Roberts, hitting summer festivals, and continuing to expand his Ole Red partnership with Ryman Hospitality. The Vegas outpost, located at the corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Boulevard South, marks the fifth Ole Red location, joining Tishomingo, Okla., Nashville and Gatlinburg in Tennessee and Orlando, Fla., complete with a rooftop stage that’s become its own destination on the Strip.
He’s also branching into television production, co-producing CBS’ The Road, a gritty series following touring artists, with Taylor Sheridan and starring Keith Urban. For someone who “retired” from The Voice after 23 seasons, Shelton’s definition of retirement looks suspiciously like a full-time job.
For his Vegas shows, Shelton delivers an undeniable honky-tonk vibe. His performances feel more like Saturday night at your favorite dive bar—if that dive bar happened to seat 4,300 people and feature world-class production. Fans can expect a powerhouse set drawing from three decades of hits, mixed with fresh material from the new album. Songs like “Honey Bee,” “God’s Country” and “Austin” share space with newer tracks, delivered in his signature raucous energy that transforms even The Colosseum’s Roman grandeur into something that feels authentically country.
This month, Vegas gets exactly what Shelton promised: more country, more cocktails, more questionable decisions. We can totally get behind that.
Caesars Palace, 8 p.m. Jan. 18, 21, 23-24, 28 and 30-31, starting at $107 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com
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